On 17 Jun, Robert B. Yonaitis wrote:
> As per the Spec it is valid and optional for Inputs like shown in the
> example: Now is it the best use? The WAI Team has said on ocassions that
Yes. It is *valid* for the input element. It is, and I'll go out on a
limb and make a blanket statement, pointless for anything ELSE than a
graphical button.
There is very little in the way of an accessibility benefit to seeing
the example:
<input type="text"
name="lastname"
accesskey="L"
tabindex="1"
id="lastname"
alt="Last Name">
rendered as
Last name
without any ability to actually *input* a last name. nor any real
possibility of understanding what was just read, and why. Take note of
the specification of ALT, which states:
"Do not specify meaningless alternate text (e.g., "dummy text").
Not only will this frustrate users, it will slow down user agents
that must convert text to speech or braille output."
Now, I'm guessing that you answered my comments - frankly it would be
much easier if you quoted a little (hot tip) - and I must admit that
strictly you are correct. There is nothing inherently wrong with the
above example, save that the ALT text there is utterly meaningless.
Placing ALTernate text on text inputs for display if, and when, a
user-agent without for support shows up means that the same UA will,
quite happily, fill the user with ALTernate content which, basically,
only informs her that her browser can't access the content at all.
However, it means she have to *guess* - say from what is being read -
that that is what happens. Meaningless and confusing.
> they recommend LABEL but Alt is valid. So it is valid on the example given
ALT is valid. LABEL is valid - but they are two entirely different
beasts.
> is my only point and will validate as "Good" HTML. However it seems it is
Certainly. I'll agree with that. My reply was hasty.
> Since the number of valid attributes for the input are a limited set you
> would think all scree readers could handle them.
Well, it depends a little on the definition of a 'screen reader', but
also with the sad fact that even if HTML of all varieties are quite
limited - this is the benefit of having them - not all browsers
support them.
--
- Tina Holmboe Greytower Technologies
tina@greytower.net http://www.greytower.net/
[+46] 0708 557 905